Congressional Testimony for Liu Xiaobo; CECC Witness: Chai Ling, Founder of All Girls Allowed
Dec. 6th, 2011
Chairman Smith and Ranking Members of the Committee, thank you for hosting this important hearing to give honor, respect and much-needed attention to Mr. Liu Xiaobo. His bravery and perseverance continue to set an example for all of us as we consider our nation’s relationship with China moving forward.
The Liu Xiaobo I Know
My experience with Liu Xiaobo began at Tiananmen Square in 1989. From the beginning, we approached the movement with different strategies and ideas. And yet we worked together toward a common goal: to request dialogue with the Chinese government to urge peaceful reforms. His leadership and participation as an intellectual leader brought strength to the protest. In the last hour, when we were all surrounded by tanks and troops at Tiananmen Square, he volunteered to speak to the Army commanders as I addressed the students. This act of bravery by going to the front lines left a deep impression on me. He returned and gave me a hug, and also said, “Now I finally understand all of you students.” That moment between life and death, we both felt the power of unity. After the massacre, Liu and I went our separate ways—I arrived in America, the land of the free, after 10 months underground, while Liu was imprisoned inside China. After these early days
of blood and tears, life or death, we never saw each other again. But I hope to someday reunite with him and tell him about the ultimate freedom I found in Jesus. Like himself, Jesus was wrongfully punished and hurt for the sake of others. I pray for Xiaobo to get to know Jesus in the time of bondage, we can be soon reunited again in person and in spirit.
Charter 08 and China’s Three Reforms Necessary for Democracy and Freedom
Today I want to spend a few moments discussing one topic Liu has devoted much of his life to: democracy and freedom in China. Liu was one of the authors of Charter 08, which points out that China remains the only large world power to still retain an authoritarian system that so infringes on human rights. The charter reads: "This situation must change! Political democratic reforms cannot be delayed any longer!"
Liu is behind bars for advocating for political reform that China so desperately needs, for freedom of religion that could propel China forward into spiritual reform, and for a guarantee of human rights – rights that he is currently being denied.
Before the massacre in 1989, Hu Yaobong advocated for three reforms. At that time as a young student, I did not understand what he was talking about. He advocated for economic, political and spiritual reform. Zhao Ziyang, the premier who eventually was sentenced to house imprisonment for his disagreement with Deng Xioping's massacre decision, advocated for two reforms: political and economic. But Deng Xiaoping only wanted one reform, economic reform.
That is what China has today. We must remember this when we examine our relationship with China. It is believed that a small amount of people, around 5,000 Chinese families, control 70 percent of China's wealth, its political power and military power. The middle class take a good portion of the remaining 30 percent while the poorest of the poor, 468 million people, live under 2 dollars a day.
This is what happens when no political or spiritual reform takes place, but instead, oppression and economic reform create a lethal combination. It has led to a state that is described in Charter 08: “…so far, this political progress has largely remained on paper: there are laws, but there is no rule of law; there is a constitution, but no constitutional government; this is still the political reality that is obvious to all. The ruling elite continues to insist on its authoritarian grip on power, rejecting political reform. This has caused official corruption, difficulty in establishing rule of law, the absence of human rights, moral bankruptcy, social polarization, abnormal economic development, destruction of both the natural and cultural environment, no institutionalized protection of citizens’ rights to freedom, property, and the pursuit of happiness, the constant accumulation of all kinds of social conflicts, and the continuous surge of resentment. In particular, the intensification of antagonism between the government and the people, and the dramatic increase in mass incidents, indicate a catastrophic loss of control in the making, suggesting that the backwardness of the current system has reached a point where change must occur”.
In addition, China’s current model is a threat to democracy around the world. This past month we attended a democracy conference in Rome to meet with world leaders and discuss democracy. The president of the hosting organization explained that: “the largest obstacle today for countries seeking democracy is China.” Not only do 1 in 5 people live in this nation without freedom or basic human rights, but others look to China as an example. China has totalitarian control and a free market. The continued apparent wealth and power of the super elite class in China is attractive to dictators and people worldwide who hope to model the same in their own countries and societies. It is a stumbling block to democracy globally.
Download the attachment to read the rest of Chai Ling's testimony.
